Chapter 12

Chen Ji and Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi were both deeply worried at this moment.

Because Dingyuan Town was a vital town; if it fell, Dikou City and the surrounding towns would be in even greater danger.

However, the enemy was powerful, and Chen Ji and Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi dared not easily dispatch a large army to assist.

Because a force had already been sent previously, only to be heavily battered and return in defeat.

This terrified Chen Ji and Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi so much that they could only strictly guard Dikou City!

If Dikou City were lost, the enemy could march straight in even more brazenly!

It might even threaten the Divine Capital!

Therefore, compared to Dingyuan Town, Chen Ji and Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi believed Dikou City was more important.

If Dingyuan Town fell, they would at most be punished or demoted.

If Dikou City fell, their very lives might be forfeit!

"Reporting to the two Regional Military Commissioners! Urgent military intelligence from Dingyuan Town!"

A Night Scout arrived, dusty and travel-worn, at the main hall of the Regional Military Commission's mansion in the city.

Night Scout was the specific term for scouts or spies among the Liaodong border defense forces.

Hearing the words of this Night Scout.

Chen Ji and Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi exchanged a glance.

They could see the deep worry in each other.

Because Chen Ji belonged to the Four Kings and Eight Dukes faction, his background was deeper.

Furthermore.

In terms of noble rank.

Chen Ji was also higher than the latter.

His official grade was also higher than Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi's.

Therefore, he was the one in charge here.

However, besides the two of them.

There was one more person who could not be ignored.

That was Song De, the supervising official sent by the current Emperor from the Imperial City Department!

The Imperial City Department was the secret service agency of the Great Great Great Qian Dynasty.

The offices under its jurisdiction included: the Investigation Department and the Ice Well Office.

Its nature was similar to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

It was in charge of palace security, night patrols, and intelligence gathering.

It was not under the jurisdiction of the Three Offices and was a secret agency directly under the Emperor.

Therefore, even though Song De's position was only a minor sixth-grade official in the Investigation Department.

Neither of the two second-grade generals, Chen Ji and Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi, dared to underestimate him.

Chen Ji glanced at Song De—the Emperor's lackey, who sat in the lower seat wearing a belt and black boots, with a proper face and aged twenty-eight or twenty-nine—took a nervous breath, and then said in a deep voice: "Speak quickly!"

They both assumed it was either another plea for help!

Or the worst news that Dingyuan Town had been breached!

They were all filled with trepidation!

[15] Jia Hui kills civilians to claim merit? A miraculous feat shocks the whole city! Fast horses report.

Yet, the words of this Night Scout left all three people present stunned: "Jia Hui and dozens of others from the Falcon Battalion, acting on orders to support Dingyuan Town, have routed the enemy army and beheaded over a thousand!"

The words were few.

But they directly shocked Chen Ji, Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi, and Song De!

Chen Ji was greatly shocked: "What?!"

"Beheaded over a thousand? Do you dare to report false military intelligence?"

Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi shouted in a deep voice!

Song De was also suspicious, his face full of doubt.

"Killing civilians to claim merit?"

None of them could clearly believe this news!

Because it was truly too sensational!

After all, even their ten thousand troops might not be able to annihilate a thousand enemies; being counter-killed was the more likely scenario.

The Night Scout said excitedly: "This matter is absolutely true, and most of the enemies Jia Hui and the others killed were Tatars!"

"Some of the heads of the killed Tatars have already been transported back by a team of Night Scouts!"

"Dingyuan Town is also aware of this matter; surely more detailed military intelligence will be sent soon!"

"..."

The words of this Night Scout.

Once again severely shocked Chen Ji and the others.

After a few seconds of silence!

Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi was the first to be overjoyed: "Good, good, this is a miraculous feat. Beheading over a thousand Tatar enemies is something that hasn't happened in many years; the last time was when an army of over a hundred thousand annihilated them."

He was very excited.

Because the general who had most strongly proposed supporting Dingyuan Town before was him.

However, that army had been defeated.

This had left Zheng Zheng Zheng Qizhi unable to eat or sleep well during this time.

If they won, his merit would naturally be greater.

If they lost, his guilt would undoubtedly be greater!

Now that Jia Hui had annihilated the enemy.

If he could lift the siege of Dingyuan Town, he figured his own guilt might be reduced somewhat.

Therefore, he had a favorable impression of Jia Hui.

He also greatly admired such a fierce and brave warrior!

Song De was even more overjoyed.

As a supervising official sent by the Emperor, he didn't have so many thoughts.

A great victory for the army was the best thing.

This would make the Son of Heaven happy.

As the lackey of the Son of Heaven, he was naturally happy too.

"Jia Hui?!"

Only Chen Ji's expression turned gloomy upon hearing this name.

At first, he hadn't reacted.

After thinking about it.

Wasn't this the news that recently came from Jia Zhen of the Ningguo Prefecture in the Divine Capital?

Jia Zhen had explicitly stated he wanted to retaliate against and target this Jia Hui!

He sent him to his death!

Now, unexpectedly.

The person hadn't died!

Instead, he had performed a miraculous feat!

This made Chen Ji feel depressed: "Sigh, how could this happen? Wasn't the mission supposed to be a failure?"

However, depressed as he was.

He couldn't do anything.

Conceal military intelligence?

Impossible!

Did he think Song De beside him was dead? ===== CHAPTER 19 =====